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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Dp accuses me of lying 24/7

123 replies

Fornahl89 · 13/01/2024 20:47

Little rant…

dp constantly accuses me of things, mostly very small petty things. For example, he returned home from work this evening, I have been alone with dc all day (like usual) the home is clean and tidy, his food is cooked for him etc. he calls me to the bedroom and accuses me of ‘touching’ a gift bag of his in our room. It is not ever an accusation he TELLS me I HAVE touched it and I tell him I haven’t then he continues to repeat himself multiple times asking if I have touched it. I continue to tell him no but he gets visibly more annoyed and aggravated about this as he genuinely believes I am lying. In the end I feel worried to continue telling the truth and something wonder if it’s easier to take the blame for something I haven’t done - because no matter what I say he will believe what he wants.

this turned into a very big issue, he TOLD me I have touched it, have looked through the bag as things haven’t apparently fallen out. 100% I have not touched it, I don’t go to his side of the room and nobody else ever enters the room. I know he has obviously touched it, this is an example of the same thing that happens almost every day. He will do something, he won’t remember and then I will get the blame for it. Sometimes it can be as simple as a bottle of cola in the fridge that he has drink down to 1/4 full, he’ll leave it in the fridge then blame me and tell me I am lazy for putting 1/4 drink back in the fridge (even though he has done it and doesn’t remember!) there’s been times I have actually taken photos to prove as I know he’ll blame me.

that’s not really the issue though…. The problem is why does he get so angry over such silly things? We live in the same home, I should be able to go to ‘his side’ of the room if necessary, it shouldn’t be an issue if I touch his things. Why would he be so angry that I touched a gift that a client has bought him?

after this evening I’m really not sure what to do, it was a very big problem, I ended in tears trying to tell him I promise I haven’t touched anything, he swore and insulted me and told me I need to stop lying all the time, when I cried he told me I’m an emotional mess and that he shouldn’t have come home early (he returned home at 6pm from work - it’s usually 8/9pm on a Saturday. I’m constantly alone).

sometimes I feel at a loss of what to do, how can I possibly keep taking the blame for things I haven’t done? How can I keep trying to defend myself/repeatedly say I haven’t done something when he gets so mad and only believes what he wants anyway?

OP posts:
BCBird · 14/01/2024 04:56

Being used to being alone for much of your adult life does not explain such behaviour

kkloo · 14/01/2024 05:14

Fornahl89 · 13/01/2024 20:52

But what would be the need to gaslight over tiny irrelevant subjects? I’d understand bigger issues, and he has done that before. But why gaslight over tiny extremely random things? It is as if he genuinely believes I am lying

One form of gaslighting is when they do it over stupid, apparently irrelevant things to try to make the person feel like they're going mad.

That's where the name comes from, it was from a play called gas light where a husband started messing with gas lights etc in their home to make the wife think she was going mad.

That would be the most intentional, sinister form of gaslighting because it's done on purpose to make the other person think they're going mad.

Other forms of gaslighting are common but they are to get away with things such as cheating etc or so that they don't have to follow through on promises or explain their behaviour etc.......that's more of an extension of lying and is done to get away with things.

But the other form like what is described in the play and like what it sounds like your husband is doing to you, the need is that he wants to make you feel like you're going mad, probably so that you start to doubt yourself so much and your reality so much that you stay stuck with him and never leave.

Geppili · 14/01/2024 05:17

Jesus Christ! This man is projecting on to you everything HE actually does. He is the one deceiving all the time.

AgentJohnson · 14/01/2024 07:48

I do realise this is bad as this evening has made me feel awful and I don’t see how a relationship can function this way.

It can’t, well not happily. If this isn’t the primary relationship you want to model for your children, then don’t. If you think it can’t get worse, it could. Your children could be in line for his gaslighting bs.

You are asking the wrong question, it isn't ‘why does he do this?’but rather, ‘why do I put up with it?’. You can’t change his behaviour but you sure as hell can stop accepting it and being around to accept it.

The balls in your court.

Purpleraiin · 14/01/2024 09:54

My partner used to behave like this. He has EUPD though and it's believed to be caused by disassociation which is a symptom of his EUPD. However, he wouldn't behave like it randomly, it would be during a splitting episode, or on the build up to an episode. No amount of evidence or denial could make him see he was in fact the liar because he genuinely believed he wasn't.
If you want to stick your relationship out, I'd only be hanging round on his agreement to get help with his mental health.

perfectcolourfound · 14/01/2024 10:05

Your post has chilled me to the bone.

He accused you of 'answering back'?????? Does he think you're a child??? When an adult disagrees with another adult that isn't 'answering back'. His use of those words shows that he thinks of you as his inferior, and thinks you should defer to him and agree with him at all times. That is very worrying.

Yes you can go to any part of your home. Your DP doesn't have sole rights to his side of the bed! And so what if you'd touched his gift bag? Why would it matter?

And he accuses you of stealing things? And you stay with him?

He sounds extremely abusive. Possibly mixed in with a MH issue. But still abusive. He's either doing this by choice (scarily abusive and you need to get out for your own sake and DC) or he is seriously mentally ill (and you need to get out for your own sake and DC).

A relationship without trust isn't a good relationship.
A relationship where one person makes the other cry isn't a good relationship. Then accuses that person of being a mess!!

If anyone is a 'mess' it's him. Can you take steps to get away from him? At best, this isn't a healthy place to be and is making you confused and unhappy. At worst, it's abusive and could become dangerously so. And in both cases this is a really unhealthy place to bring up children.

HalloumiGeller · 14/01/2024 10:14

I'm sorry but this man sounds abusive, no way could I live like this!

Zanatdy · 14/01/2024 10:16

OP this is not normal. His behaviour is strange and I cannot believe for a minute you’re happy in this relationship. You must be walking on egg shells all the time wondering what he’s going to kick off about next. You don’t have to live like this

EightChalk · 14/01/2024 10:43

With abusive partners, it's pointless trying to figure out WHY they do certain things. It's not something you can solve, and there won't be an answer you can figure out that will stop them from being abusive and treating you badly. The only way to get this behaviour out of your life is to leave.

HarrietTheFireStarter · 14/01/2024 14:38

Purpleraiin · 14/01/2024 09:54

My partner used to behave like this. He has EUPD though and it's believed to be caused by disassociation which is a symptom of his EUPD. However, he wouldn't behave like it randomly, it would be during a splitting episode, or on the build up to an episode. No amount of evidence or denial could make him see he was in fact the liar because he genuinely believed he wasn't.
If you want to stick your relationship out, I'd only be hanging round on his agreement to get help with his mental health.

I was so disappointed to see your post offering excuses for the OP's abusive partner.

Mental illness or not, it is never OK to abuse your partner. The OP is living in constant anxiety and is harangued daily, sworn at etc. Nothing makes that acceptable.

He is an adult who.must take responsibility for his behaviour. Sure, it sounds like he has serious mental health issues but so do heavy drinkers and no-one would suggest that's OK to live with.

Violence is not just physical and this man is extremely abusive, very violent with his words and behaviour. He is a controlling bully.

The OP already doubts herself; please don't suggest it is in any way her responsibility to fix this terrible person. We can be sure he knows better than to treat colleagues in this way.

Cherrysoup · 14/01/2024 14:45

He doesn’t want you answering back? You’re not a child! You are allowed to argue your case. What are the good bits about this relationship? Are there any?!If you can’t touch his side of the bedroom, presumably you can’t dust/hoover that side either? Or wash his clothes?

ChicoryBlue · 14/01/2024 15:39

I continue to tell him no but he gets visibly more annoyed and aggravated about this as he genuinely believes I am lying.

He doesn’t genuinely believe you’re lying, he is gaslighting you, which is abuse.

The problem is why does he get so angry over such silly things?

The problem is that he is abusing you.

Sometimes I feel at a loss of what to do, how can I possibly keep taking the blame for things I haven’t done?

What you need to do is leave this abusive relationship.

How can I keep trying to defend myself/repeatedly say I haven’t done something when he gets so mad and only believes what he wants anyway?

You can’t, because he is doing this to keep you confused and upset and uncertain, to the point where you barely know what’s real any more.

It is as if he genuinely believes I am lying.

The likelihood that he genuinely believes this is infinitesimally small. In the vanishingly unlikely case that he does, he needs urgent psychiatric help. It doesn’t change the fact that you need to leave this dangerous man and get your children out of this very toxic and dangerous situation.

The fact that you have kids is pretty disturbing tbh. How old are they now? How long before he starts treating them like this as well?

He is abusing you. He is abusive. You are in an abusive relationship, and therefore so are your children. Please get the fuck away from him @Fornahl89

Purpleraiin · 17/01/2024 16:00

HarrietTheFireStarter · 14/01/2024 14:38

I was so disappointed to see your post offering excuses for the OP's abusive partner.

Mental illness or not, it is never OK to abuse your partner. The OP is living in constant anxiety and is harangued daily, sworn at etc. Nothing makes that acceptable.

He is an adult who.must take responsibility for his behaviour. Sure, it sounds like he has serious mental health issues but so do heavy drinkers and no-one would suggest that's OK to live with.

Violence is not just physical and this man is extremely abusive, very violent with his words and behaviour. He is a controlling bully.

The OP already doubts herself; please don't suggest it is in any way her responsibility to fix this terrible person. We can be sure he knows better than to treat colleagues in this way.

I did have quite a big reply typed out to this but my phone died before hitting send and apparently that deletes the entire thing. Probably for the best as it was way to long and with a lot of detail!

To be honest, I've absolutely no idea how you've come to the conclusions In your response when alot of what you have mentioned I haven't Evan said. Some bits you have mentioned, that I've also not said, but are a subject kind of touched up on in my post actually mean the opposite to what you are suggesting I mean. So I'm clueless by your response to me?

HarrietTheFireStarter · 17/01/2024 16:40

Purpleraiin · 17/01/2024 16:00

I did have quite a big reply typed out to this but my phone died before hitting send and apparently that deletes the entire thing. Probably for the best as it was way to long and with a lot of detail!

To be honest, I've absolutely no idea how you've come to the conclusions In your response when alot of what you have mentioned I haven't Evan said. Some bits you have mentioned, that I've also not said, but are a subject kind of touched up on in my post actually mean the opposite to what you are suggesting I mean. So I'm clueless by your response to me?

Maybe re-read your post. It certainly wasn't only me who found it jarring given the number of posters who have hit the thanks button to my response.

Verv · 17/01/2024 17:31

He is abusive. Please leave.
It's not going to get better the longer you stay with him.

user1471538283 · 17/01/2024 18:07

He's either got an agenda or he's unhinged. Either way this is no way for you to live.

If he's so precious about everything he can take it all when he leaves.

This is gaslighting and exhausting. Your nerves must be frayed.

Get rid of him before he destroys what's left of your mental health.

Purpleraiin · 17/01/2024 19:22

HarrietTheFireStarter · 17/01/2024 16:40

Maybe re-read your post. It certainly wasn't only me who found it jarring given the number of posters who have hit the thanks button to my response.

I have, and I'm genuinely confused. OP's partner was never once mentioned in my post. I mentioned my own experience of the same kind of shite, from MY partner, and what turned out to be the instigating factor behind it. No mention of OP's partner anywhere in my post?
So where have I disappointed you by excusing the OPs partners behaviour, when the only partner mentioned in my post is my own?
You have implied In your response my belief is that a mental health condition makes it OK if abuse is occurring and therefore people should live with it. But again I'm not seeing how you've come to that opinion when there are 3 things mentioned in my post. 1. My acknowledgement to what OP is going through and telling her I've dealt with the same myself in the past from MY partner.
2. The name of the mental health condition he has since been diagnosed with as well as one of the many symptoms that come along with that condition as its a cause of some behaviours mentioned in MY partner, and in what circumstances that symptom would rear its ugly head. ( this part if anything was me acknowledging he has a diagnosed illness that can cause these issues, whereas OPs partner doesn't. In my eyes thats me saying, for OPs partner it's totally inexcusable, compared to my situation where I have some kind of medical explanation to at least give understanding to an extent)

  1. If OP wanted to stick around then my opinion wouldn't be to stick around if he wasn't willing to seek help.
Out of the 3 things I have spoken about in my post, I don't see the part where I say mental health makes it OK to be abusive, Therefore, live with it? I'm aware violence is not just physical seen as my original posts first sentence begins, 'my partner used to behave exactly like this', referring to the many issues OP is having with her partners behaviour, which includes none physical abusive behaviour that ive been on the receiving end of myself. I'm fully aware that abusive behaviour does not have to be physical given my own situation.

And finally I cannot see how anything I have said would make OP doubt herself Evan more into believing she is the problem, nor have I anywhere suggested she fixes him.
Again, given my own situation, I'm well aware noone else can 'fix' another person. Hence my response that If wanting to stay in the relationship, I'd only do so if the partner seeked help. Simply becasue that's my opinion. If you don't want to stay then don't, if you do want to stay then my opinion would be there's absolutely no way without the partner seeking help. That comment itself makes a lot of sense coming from a person who's been on the receiving end and come out the other side. If OP intends to stay and would like to know, why now being out the other side of it, I feel seeking help is a must in this situation, she would be welcome to ask and I'd be happy to answer truthfully.
If she doesn't intend to stay then it doesn't apply to her plans and is totally irrelevant.

I'm not sure how any of that would make her doubt herself further, nor suggests she fixes him when the post says, 'HIS agreement to get help with HIS mental health. That suggests it's on him to agree and sort. Given that it's his mental health and his shitty abusive behaviour, OP can't take responsibility for fixing it as she's not him. He is his own person capable of making his own decision where help is concerned, and it's simply not possible for OP to take responsibility for fixing something that is inside someone elses head. I wouldn't suggest what isn't possible, so I haven't suggested what you claimed I have.

To be honest you're very insulting trying to say I have suggested that. Given my own circumstances, do you not think I learnt a long time ago that it isn't possible to take responsibility and fix someone else? The last thing I would ever tell someone in OPs situation is to take some responsibility for your partner and fix them. That would be pretty cruel to give someone hope that they are capable of doing just that, then leaving them to suffer while trying the impossible.

I'm disappointed that you've read my post, and somehow came to the conclusion that it's written by a rather sick individual who condones and excuses abuse, believes if a mental health issue could be at play, you should just suck it up and live with it as that's a completely plausible excuse. Oblivious enough to think it's only abuse if its physical despite clearly stating a snippet of my own life on the receiving end. And finally I'm also a person who believes the abuser should do naff all, while the abused scurries round desperately trying to fix and take responsibility for said abuser.

I am genuinely confused how you came to all that based off the 3 things I mentioned in my post. I have tried to ask you but you respond passive aggressively. Nothing I have said was with the malice regardless how you have read it, but I'm not ignorant enough to believe everyone sees everything in the same way. You've read it in a way that was never how I intended it to come across. I've been adult enough to respond to your post in a kind way, asking if you'll explain so I can actually understand how that's happend, but you just want to double down rather than take the request to help someone understand. That's your choice so I'll leave it at that and won't engage further.

If anyone who sent a clap to this poster would care to help me understand, please feel free to send me a pm To help. I'm not an arse and would genuinly like to know. I have my own problems going on which I'm well aware can present issues like this at times. Hence my response clearly saying I was clueless and leaving it open to be explained. If I meant it in the way its been taken, i wouldn't be sat here questioning how/why that's happend, nor trying to understand.

DangerMmm0use · 18/01/2024 12:42

I could not live like this !

What happens when he starts accusing your children of similar things ?

I suggest that you start making plans for a new life without him

MarxistMags · 24/03/2025 21:26

I have had experience of this with my husband. It was down to his MH, in this case paranoia. Acute paranoia. Somebody had been in our house, car, caravan or boat. He knew because things had been moved or taken. "they'' once followed us over 150 miles so they could drink the water from the bottle in the car. He would beg me, plead with me,to tell him the truth as to who was doing it. Once he grabbed my shoulders and shook me pleading with me to tell him the truth. It was hell. He insisted there was nothing wrong with him. And wouldn't see the Doc as there was nothing wrong with him.
He had previously had meds for MH.
Talking though exhausting seemed to help.

mathanxiety · 25/03/2025 04:17

He sounds deranged.
What he's doing is emotional and psychological abuse.

Please call Women's Aid 0808 2000 247 and ask for all the support you can get.

MarxistMags · 26/03/2025 00:31

Who ? Me ?

ArnieLinson · 26/03/2025 05:59

@Fornahl89 How is life now?

BellissimoGecko · 26/03/2025 18:15

Christ. He’s not normal. You can’t live like that. LTB.

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